DEVIATE

aberrant, deviant, deviate

(adjective) markedly different from an accepted norm; “aberrant behavior”; “deviant ideas”

pervert, deviant, deviate, degenerate

(noun) a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior

deviate, divert

(verb) turn aside; turn away from

deviate

(verb) cause to turn away from a previous or expected course; “The river was deviated to prevent flooding”

deviate, vary, diverge, depart

(verb) be at variance with; be out of line with

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

deviate (plural deviates)

(sociology) A person with deviant behaviour; a deviant, degenerate or pervert.

Synonyms: deviant, degenerate, pervert

(statistics) A value equal to the difference between a measured variable factor and a fixed or algorithmic reference value.

Verb

deviate (third-person singular simple present deviates, present participle deviating, simple past and past participle deviated)

(intransitive) To go off course from; to change course; to change plans.

(intransitive, figurative) To fall outside of, or part from, some norm; to stray.

(transitive) To cause to diverge.

Synonyms

• (change course): swerve, veer

• (stray): stray, wander

Source: Wiktionary

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De"vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviating.] Etym: [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to go, travel, via way. See Viaduct.]

Definition: To go out of the way; to turn aside from a course or a method; to stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to diverge; to vary. Thus Pegasus, a nearer way to take, May boldly deviate from the common track. Pope.

Syn.

– To swerve; stray; wander; digress; depart; deflect; err.

De"vi*ate, v. t.

Definition: To cause to deviate. [R.] To deviate a needle. J. D. Forbes.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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